J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 3 eBook

“Pshaw! Mary darling, what is it but a
dream! I have had a thousand more startling;
it is only that you are so nervous just now.”

“But that is not all—­nothing; what
followed is so dreadful; for either there is something
very horrible going on at Mardykes, or else I am losing
my reason,” said Lady Haworth in increasing agitation.
“I wakened instantly in great alarm, but I suppose
no more than I have felt a hundred times on awakening
from a frightful dream. I sat up in my bed; I
was thinking of ringing for Winnefred, my heart was
beating so, but feeling better soon I changed my mind.
All this time I heard a faint sound of a voice, as
if coming through a thick wall. It came from the
wall at the left side of my bed, and I fancied was
that of some woman lamenting in a room separated from
me by that thick partition. I could only perceive
that it was a sound of crying mingled with ejaculations
of misery, or fear, or entreaty. I listened with
a painful curiosity, wondering who it could be, and
what could have happened in the neighbouring rooms
of the house; and as I looked and listened, I could
distinguish my own name, but at first nothing more.
That, of course, might have been an accident; and
I knew there were many Marys in the world besides
myself. But it made me more curious; and a strange
thing struck me, for I was now looking at that very
wall through which the sounds were coming. I
saw that there was a window in it. Thinking that
the rest of the wall might nevertheless be covered
by another room, I drew the curtain of it and looked
out. But there is no such thing. It is the
outer wall the entire way along. And it is equally
impossible of the other wall, for it is to the front
of the house, and has two windows in it; and the wall
that the head of my bed stands against has the gallery
outside it all the way; for I remarked that as I came
to you.”

“Tut, tut, Mary darling, nothing on earth is
so deceptive as sound; this and fancy account for
everything.”

“But hear me out; I have not told you all.
I began to hear the voice more clearly, and at last
quite distinctly. It was Janet’s, and she
was conjuring you by name, as well as me, to come
to her to Mardykes, without delay, in her extremity;
yes, you, just as vehemently as me. It
was Janet’s voice. It still seemed separated
by the wall, but I heard every syllable now; and I
never heard voice or words of such anguish. She
was imploring of us to come on, without a moment’s
delay, to Mardykes; and crying that, if we were not
with her, she should go mad.”

“Well, darling,” said Lady Walsingham,
“you see I’m included in this invitation
as well as you, and should hate to disappoint Janet
just as much; and I do assure you, in the morning
you will laugh over this fancy with me; or rather,
she will laugh over it with us, when we get to Mardykes.
What you do want is rest, and a little sal-volatile.”